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Resistance in Gaza stronger than before: Haneya

02 August 2011 03:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Prime Minister of the deposed Hamas administration in Gaza Ismail Haneya said Monday that the armed resistance on the ground in the Gaza Strip is "stronger than before", APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Today, the armed resistance on the ground is stronger than what it had been during the three-week Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in late 2008," Haneya told representatives of Miles of Smiles convoy that arrived in Gaza on Monday.

Haneya received the Miles of Smiles delegation at his office in Gaza. The delegation arrived in the coastal enclave through Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, bringing with them medical aid to the enclave.

"The Israeli aggression and the Israeli siege were aiming at toppling the government in Gaza and strike on the armed resistance. But today, the armed resistance is stronger than before," said Haneya.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip right after the Islamic movement seized control of the area in June 2007. However, Israel relaxed the siege after its naval forces attacked the Gaza flotilla in May 2010.

"Resistance is our strategic choice and it will go on. We won’t recognize Israel and we won’t make any concession on any of our people’s legitimate rights, mainly the right of return," said Haneya.

Israel has earlier accused Hamas movement of training around 400 commando militants by Iranian militants. It has also said that Hamas managed to smuggle to the Gaza Strip weapons.

In late 2008, Israel waged a three-week military operation on the Gaza Strip. Israel said the aim of the operation, Cast Lead, was to rein the militant groups and prevent launch of rockets and projectiles from Gaza at southern Israel.